Hi Folks,

My husband has always been healthy (aside from weight) and never went to the doc...literally in the 8 years we have been together. He has two years of history but doesn't have the third. Surgery coordinator is saying draft up a letter to insurance to explain lack of medical documentation.

Anyone have ideas, resources, examples? We are going to print off Facebook timestamped pictures to include as well.

ANY help would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Sarah

Tell them when he got sick, he couldn't afford to go to the doctor, so he just dealt with it the best way he could, no insurance. Who would have paid? I know lots of people that were in that boat. Or does he have Emergency room visits to any hospitals? I never heard of this before, I thought the government just declared obesity a disease, a letter from a doctor now should help. He's not getting any younger, and the older you get the weight becomes more dangerous Good luck!

I didn't have the 3 years that my insurance required so they approved me by pictures from 3 years! I was very surprised they allowed that but they did and I was approved in less than 2 weeks. So check into that!

My insurance required 2 yrs of documented history and i only had one. The coordinator at the surgeons office had me send over a pic from the other year and the insurance company approved me. The coordinator said some insurance companies required weight history just to make sure people weren't purposely gaining weight to qualify for surgery.

We definitely have pictures that we can send. We have had insurance since 2008 but he has NEVER gone to the doc until we started doing the required pre-op 6 month diet last year. He doesn't take meds and rarely gets sick. So hopefully we can explain that in the letter and provide pics and that will be enough. Its not like he is 220lbs...he is over 300lbs...you don't just get to that overnight.

Those of you who submitted pictures in lieu of weight history, what insurance do you have that accepted the pictures?

I have bcbs of alabama

interesting. I am in a similar boat. haven't been to dr since 2009 until this year in may. that is the only requirement I worry about. the picture route would be a nice backup. good luck.

How did you prove the pics are 3 years old and not taken recently?